This is a work of fiction. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely intentional. No skeleton, nor person, nor kayak was harmed in the making of this work. The author is sorely responsible for the contents of this work!
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The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
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I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
The Sweetwater chickee camping platform was next on our list. It lies tucked away inside a little ‘finger cove’ of Sweetwater Bay. It is also pretty close to the Everglades interior (i.e. the slough) so the tidal influence was minimal here. I tasted the water and it was pretty sweet, probably good enough to filter. However this may not always be the case at other times of the year!
(tap or click pic to read)
The Sweetwater chickee is aptly named for the water was indeed sweeter! Heaven or Hell: Summer paddling and camping in the Ten Thousand Islands
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Paddling in the summer heat really feels like being in a steam bath. I tried dunking myself in the water to cool off, but it was not very effective since the water felt like a hot tub. Still, the evaporation of the water did help a tiny bit. I was glad that I used an old somewhat leaky nylon spray skirt rather than my neoprene nice fitting one. The porousness did keep me cooler!
Some people bring sports drinks for hydration. I rely mostly on plain water supplemented with rations of young cocoanut water to replenish the sweated out salts. If you go paddling in the summer, it bears repeating:
Bring twice the amount of drinking water you think you’ll need!
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
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I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
…
I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
Do what you must to establish solid footing in your boat .. Your feet are the key to proper paddling posture!
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Being mindful of your feet as the foundation for your paddling posture will yield many benefits over time!
Many paddlers don’t seem to think much about their feet unless they happen to step wrong on something. The focus always seems to be more on their arms, their hips and their paddles. But the foot is an important and integral part of kayaking and all paddling in general. Along with the hips and thighs, the feet position a paddler in or on top of their craft and provide an anchor point for optimum paddling motion.
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
…
I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
Paddling just as easy as 1 – 2 – 3 ? Perhaps, or perhaps not! Escape from Babylon into the Ten Thousand Islands.
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This trip added up to about 84 miles with a nice progression
of 11, 20, 25 and 28 mile days.
A memorable escape into the the Ten Thousand Islands of the Everglades!
The Ten Thousands Islands of southwest Florida have a rich human history that dates back thousands of years. For instance, the Calusa Native Americans prospered here, living off the bounty of the coastal marine zone. Rare in human history, they achieved an advanced level of civilization that was not centered on agriculture. They also left us plenty of evidence of just how much, and how well they ate in the form the “midden mounds”. These are basically garbage heaps, of mostly shells, some reaching very large proportions! The remoteness and isolation of the 10K attracted white settlers in the last 150 years to eek out a living, often on top of those old Calusa shell mounds. Some of the so called settlers were actually seeking a place to escape to, to evade the law, perhaps permanently.
In more recent times, access to the 10000 Islands has become codified with the creation of Everglades National Park and other wildlife sanctuaries. Conveniently spaced campsites which can be “reserved” months ahead of time serve to give a familiar structure to an otherwise wild place. A few people still make a living out there, mostly to get others in and out and help them get the most out of the area.
Still, there are a few hidden gems left where the original story continues!
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
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I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
This simple laminated Google Earth printout sufficed for maybe 90% of my navigational needs. (For the remaining 10% I thanked Ted’s GPS unit.) Escape from Babylon into the Ten Thousand Islands.
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The Ten Thousands Islands of southwest Florida have a rich human history that dates back thousands of years. The Calusa Native Americans prospered here, living off the bounty of the coastal marine zone. Rare in human history, they achieved an advanced level of civilization that was not based on agriculture! They left plenty of evidence of just how much (and how well) they ate in the form the “midden mounds”. These are basically garbage heaps, of mostly shells, some quite large! The remoteness and isolation of the 10K attracted white settlers in the last 150 years to eek out a living, often on top of the old Calusa shell mounds. Some of the so called settlers were actually seeking a place to escape to, perhaps permanently.
In the modern era, we can also strive to escape,
if only for a limited time!
With my paddling partner Kayak Ted, we hatched yet another route plan to take us further south along the Ten Thousand Islands coastline and then visit a few interior campsites on the Wilderness Waterway. One of best things about tripping with Ted is that he’s down with (some of) my oddball suggestions, and sometimes he pulls out one of his own.
Such as, let’s start our 3 night trip at 5pm, day of!
In the end we paddled about 84 miles and had a nice progression of 11, 20, 25 and 28 mile days. The conditions were mostly favorable, the bugs weren’t that bad on this adventure, and it was a great trip in the Ten Thousand Islands.
A fun escape from Babylon into the Everglades outback!
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
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I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
Represent! Flying the colors at the launch in Everglades City. Moonshine in the 10 000 Islands of the Everglades.
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A simple “overnight” trip,
but with about 42 miles to cover.
On offer in this story is a photo journey of a quest to find a “lost” bit of old Everglades history. It’s the story of a Prohibition era liquor still hidden deep in the mangrove jungles of the Ten Thousand Islands.
It takes us back to the beginnings of the fascinating life story of Chokoloskee resident Loren “Totch” Brown who lived there. If you are not familiar, his book is a must read:
With the Liquor Still Bay mission accomplished, we headed out into the Gulf on a slack tide. The paddling was easy and serene, and not at all what the Gulf waters would have waiting in store for us.
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
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I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
Emerging from the refuge of the micro-tent / cage after 12+ hours. Camping Hell in the Ten Thousand Islands.
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Revised and updated for your reading pleasure!
Starting with a late departure, this trip seemed all about pushing our luck. It was a 3 day and 3 night kinda trip, if that makes any sense? The idea was to revisit the liquor still in the Everglades we had found earlier, and also see a bunch of places en route. We explored the Gopher Key Calusa mound and then rode Charley Creek out into the Gulf of Mexico, followed by camping at Pavilion Key.
Thanks to skill, perseverance and some luck we were able to visit
all the spots as planned, however the camping was just plain ugly!!
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
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I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
…
I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
An outback plein air apartment on the creek. Gone up Crooked Creek to have a little chickee camping fun!
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At about 9 miles out from the Park launch at Everglades City it sits between the Lopez River and Sunday Bay. The paddling distance is about the same whether you come up the Lopez River from the Gulf side or paddle inside via the Turner River.
The Crooked Creek chickee is well positioned as an easy
first night camp for many Ten Thousand Islands trips.
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
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I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
This is some of the stickies, clingiest, and bottomless muck that there is! Barron Creek to Ferguson River Loop – Mangroves, Airboats and Mud.
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That said, the area is beautiful, particularly the mangrove tunnels in the eastern section and the “prairie” zone just past that. The mangrove tunnels are possibly some of the most striking that you’ll find anywhere. This is why they run tourist airboat tours here. After this you’ll come into a cove with some of the stickiest, clingiest & bottomless quicksand / mud that there is!
If you capsize here for some reason .. well good luck! 😮
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
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I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
Don’t let your feet get angry .. Your feet are the key to proper paddling posture!
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Many paddlers don’t seem to think much about their feet unless they happen to step wrong on something. The focus always seems to be more on their arms, their hips and their paddles. But the foot is an important and integral part of kayaking and all paddling in general. Along with the hips and thighs, the feet position a paddler in or on top of their craft and provide an anchor point for optimum paddling motion.
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
…
I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
This site was cleared and built up by John J. Brown, who essentially created his own “shell mound” on this secret spot by hauling in fill to raise the elevation above the high tide line. John was the father of sometimes famous, sometimes infamous lifelong Chokoloskee resident and true Gladesman Loren G. “Totch” Brown. The Brown family lived in an 8 x 14 foot tar shack that stood just behind the still. As a young boy, Totch learned to hunt, trap, fish and survive in the Everglades any way he could. The moonshine produced was true ‘Everglades Whiskey’ and the fresh run liquor was aged stashed in the mangroves for about six months! This clandestine moonshine operation was probably only active for a few years and after which Totch’s father moved his family to live nearby at the former homestead of Ed Watson, which is now a backcountry Everglades campsite called The Watson Place.
Totch Brown himself went on to live a “free life” as he called it,
perhaps one of the very few and last people who got to
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
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I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
…
I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
…
I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
DISCLAIMER:: The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
DISCLAIMER:: The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
Fun gifs for all your Friday PM weekend-daydreaming needs!
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When carrying a surf ski turns into the longest hat. CLICK for Introducing the world’s longest kayak hat!
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Great White Heron vs sea snake (Final: 1-0) in the flats. CLICK for The hold up at First National Bank in Florida Bay.
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Looping around under the new Tamiami Everglades Skyway bridge. CLICK for She’s a whole lotta Kayak – A tribute to Rosie and all the plus sized kayaks out there!
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Phasing in and out of time in the 10000 Islands. CLICK for ART at Liquor Still Bay – hidden history in the Everglades.
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360 Chickee Camp Cam! CLICK for Camping on the Johnson Key platform in Florida Bay.
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The circle of Life in the Everglades! CLICK for Camping Hell in the Ten Thousand Islands.
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That face when you chop up your garlic and onions! CLICK for Tasty & Quick Cooking.
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Delicious sunset over Florida Bay progression. CLICK for Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay – Kayaking, Camping and Nice Dreams!
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Evil laugh of the Joker! CLICK for What’s in your hatch? Halloween evil kayak camping humor – TGIF!
DISCLAIMER:: The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
DISCLAIMER:: The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
DISCLAIMER:: The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
This one is all about the feet, many various feet. So follow along – each pic is clickable for a related story!
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Most paddlers don’t think much about their feet. They tend to focus more on their arms, their hips and their paddles. But the foot is an important and integral part of kayaking and any paddling in general. Along with the hips and thighs, the feet anchor a paddler in or on top of the craft. Foot protection and footwear come in many forms and styles. As with distinctive paddling hats, footwear also sets paddlers apart!
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All toes on board at Whiskey Creek in Dania Beach, Florida. CLICK for story!
The feet will let you know when there is a problem or a mismatch with foot pegs or foot pads. Whether fixed, adjustable or sliding, a properly customized fit ensures maximum control and comfort while on the water. In a sit on top you’ll always be looking at your feet. In a traditional kayak, you might not see them but you’ll be feeling and using them – or should be! Sea Kayaks and traditional sit inside kayaks usually have adjustable foot bars or foot pegs. Most sit on top style kayaks have several fixed molded in foot braces. In either case you want to adjust your foot position so that your feet are pushing your butt back into the seat. This will help to keep your lower back straight and in a slightly forward leaning position.
I often see paddlers sit in their boat and immediately lean back as if at home in a recliner. You never want to be leaning back into the backrest unless you’re taking a break! Otherwise you’ll be in the wrong position for actual paddling and harmfully compressing your spine! You may need to readjust or re-position your seat straps to accomplish this. The lean forward position is not only good for paddling, it’s also really good for your lower back.
The feet are the key for proper paddling posture!
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Counting toes and bugs while camping in Hell! CLICK for story!
DISCLAIMER:: The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
She ain’t exactly pretty She ain’t exactly small Eleven’eleven, thirty’four, sixty’one lbs But you could say she’s got it all ..
Rosie, she’s a whole lotta Kayak!
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(click each pic for a story!)
Snorkeling in Biscayne Bay, Rosie is like a personal sized dinghy! CLICK for story!
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We all love to see the sleek, fast and sexy boats. There are times however when a shorter “plus size” sit on top style kayak fits the bill! This is a humorous-musical ode to mine, which I shall call “Rosie”. She’s an Ocean Kayak Peekaboo, and yes, she’s been used and abused, and generally not pampered. With a shallow-vee and nearly flat hull, she’s the ultimate in stability on flat water! She has a large viewing port, and a jump seat in the front meant for a small child. She could carry two light adults in a pinch, but isn’t rated for it. I personally like to ride Rosie Standing UP style for visibility and photography. The downside to all this stability and generous girth is speed. She will cruise with a 230cm kayak paddle at a little over two knots, less when paddling SUP style. She does respond well to leaning and will turn on a dime with practice. Her long tracking keel does it’s job but will tend to catch on roots and grasses when backing up. Rosie can carry a lot of gear for camping, she likes to go snorkeling, she likes taking her time on flat water and she’s an excellent platform for standing.
I don’t always ride Rosie, but when I do we’re in love! 😉
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Entering a lush mangrove canopy atop Rosie. CLICK for story!
DISCLAIMER:: The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
kayakfari ( kayak .. far .. i ) 